regretting biking

**bigbadwolf** · 20th December 2005, 22:59

im still lookin for a bike, but every time i tell someone im considerin gettin one they say "you'll regret the convenience and practicality and protection of a car..." (thats apart from the countless stories of people losing legs or heads by riding under trucks etc)...

has anyone here ever regretted selling their car to get a bike as their only mode of transportation?

**sunhuntin** · 20th December 2005, 23:04

after my brother rolled his car some years back nearly killing him and his mates, that kinda helped put me off driving. i can honestly say i cannot drive a car and have no interest in learning. the only upside i can really see is extra space for luggage, but that just means you need to be more resourceful with how you load up things. there have been one or two times when if id been driving a car, i likely wouldnt be here. on the bike being so much smaller, theres more room to "play" if bad situations arise.

one thing i love about the bike is knowing exactly where my arse end is, and being able to see how far back/forwards i can go before i smack into things. with a car i dont understand how you take the location of the 4 corners and put them together to go where you want.

**bigbadwolf** · 20th December 2005, 23:15

i've driven for a few years, used to really love driving but now im kinda sick of it. nobody in my family bikes anymore, dad used to but quit 20 years ago, not sure why... the reasons i have from people not to bike are:

"why have u decided to get a bike? personally i wouldnt do it." -the girlfriend

"i know someone who knows someone who rode a scooter onto the footpath at 50km/h and lost his leg" -friend

"what the hell would you want to get a bike for?" -uncle

"if it rains, you'll get wet... and you wont be able to take people anywhere!" -nana

"you'll regret buying a bike after you've had this car" -guy looking to buy my car

"dont be a fucking idiot, man you're going to die!" -friend

"where are you gonna keep your stuff when you go places?" -girlfriend

im gettin tired of all this crap... maybe when i get a bike it will stop...

**Monsterbishi** · 20th December 2005, 23:30

In all Honesty, If you're looking to other people for your answers, it's probably best you hold off from buying a bike.

**T.W.R** · 20th December 2005, 23:33

Originally Posted by bigbadwolf

"why have u decided to get a bike? personally i wouldnt do it." -the girlfriend

"i know someone who knows someone who rode a scooter onto the footpath at 50km/h and lost his leg" -friend

"what the hell would you want to get a bike for?" -uncle

"if it rains, you'll get wet... and you wont be able to take people anywhere!" -nana

"you'll regret buying a bike after you've had this car" -guy looking to buy my car

"dont be a fucking idiot, man you're going to die!" -friend

"where are you gonna keep your stuff when you go places?" -girlfriend

im gettin tired of all this crap... maybe when i get a bike it will stop...

The only person who can make the final decision about what you do is you

your list of degraders aren't bikers & you'd probably find that:
1) once the G/F has had a ride on the back she'd probably enjoy it
2) your friends & their quotes though being protective would most likely be looking themselves to get one once you've got yours & probably theres an air of spitefullness in their comments with a hint of jealousy.
3) Your rellies aren't exactly saying don't, their just trying to highlight their caring for you.
4) the dude buying the car is just buttering you up, take his money.

getting into biking you hear allsorts of rants & raves about bikes but 99% these comments come from people who have no idea about what motorcyclings all about

**zadok** · 21st December 2005, 01:13

Originally Posted by bigbadwolf

has anyone here ever regretted selling their car to get a bike as their only mode of transportation?

I don't think there will be many in this category. If I did do something like that, I would get something practical like the GTR. Gotta love the panniers and topbox for storage.

**Posh Tourer :P** · 21st December 2005, 03:50

Originally Posted by bigbadwolf

i've driven for a few years, used to really love driving but now im kinda sick of it. nobody in my family bikes anymore, dad used to but quit 20 years ago, not sure why... the reasons i have from people not to bike are:

"why have u decided to get a bike? personally i wouldnt do it." -the girlfriend

"i know someone who knows someone who rode a scooter onto the footpath at 50km/h and lost his leg" -friend

"what the hell would you want to get a bike for?" -uncle

"if it rains, you'll get wet... and you wont be able to take people anywhere!" -nana

"you'll regret buying a bike after you've had this car" -guy looking to buy my car

"dont be a fucking idiot, man you're going to die!" -friend

"where are you gonna keep your stuff when you go places?" -girlfriend

im gettin tired of all this crap... maybe when i get a bike it will stop...

1)she is scared you will kill yourself but doesnt want to be negative about it

2) everybody does. I know someone who has hurt himself far worse on a bicycle than on a motorbike and he´s crashed many times on both....

3) he thinks you´ll suddenly have a need to be transporting rolls of carpet, two weeks´shopping or relatives around all the time....

4)Yeah but nanas say that sort of thing. You wont get wet if you buy good gear, and you wont have to take anyone anywhere, as opposed to everyone asking for a ride in your car.

5)Bollocks. He is a car nut. A comparable bike is much much more fun than a car.

6)Yeah? Is that why there are 4000-odd non-dead motorcyclists here?

7) You carry less stuff than your GF anyway..... You can chain all your gear to your bike if necesary, but I just wear my bike pants everywhere and carry the rest. As for luggage, you hardly fill up an entire car with stuff, pack a bit less and tie it all on. I´m carrying enough for 16 months round Europe on a bike, including some food, tools, tent, cooker, bedroll etc.....

**Mooch** · 21st December 2005, 04:35

Looking back over the last 17 years I'd have two major regrets that I wouldn't have known about had I not made choices.

First was meeting my Wife.
Second was getting into motorcycles.

I can't even imagine how dull life would be if either hadn't happened.
Cars are for A-B , Motorcycles are for the sole.

PS , ditch the bike knocking friends , you'll make new ones here , GF isn't into bikes ... then she's got to go .... Leave your uncle to wrap himself in cotton wool , watch tellie and armchair comment on how dangerous life is only to grow old and wonder about what if he actually lived life......

**kro** · 21st December 2005, 05:57

Ignore the anti bike patrol, they are typically made up of members who have never ridden a bike. Would you take medical advice from a diesel mechanic?, or career advice from an unemployed person?..... no, listen to those who know, and understand.

Some of them may have lost a friend/ family member to motorbikes, well whoop de doo, I lost 3 close family members to cancer in 3 years, but I dont avoid life for risk of getting cancer do I?.

Stuff them I say.

**Lou Girardin** · 21st December 2005, 07:08

You're questioning the wrong forum.

**tracyprier** · 21st December 2005, 07:27

Originally Posted by zadok

I don't think there will be many in this category. If I did do something like that, I would get something practical like the GTR. Gotta love the panniers and topbox for storage.

Which is exactly what I did only with a Beemer.

I sold my other bike and car to finance the Beemer and have not regretted it once.

The original plan was to, at some point buy a cheap little box-type car just to have one when needed.

That has changed now as I find that having my bike and the wifes car is fine.

I'm 41 now and an ex-car machanic and basically I'm totally bored with cars now, well all except for the sort of thing you see the boys on Topgear thrashing 'round in and they are WAY out of my budget so I'm gettin' my kicks on two wheels now and ain't looking back

Screw what others think, do what makes you happy 'cause you know what? life ain't a dress rehearsal.

Well that's my 2 scheckles worth

**tracyprier** · 21st December 2005, 07:31

Originally Posted by Mooch

Leave your uncle to wrap himself in cotton wool , watch tellie and armchair comment on how dangerous life is only to grow old and wonder about what if he actually lived life......

Hallelujah brother!!! tell it like it is!!

**tracyprier** · 21st December 2005, 07:35

Which reminds me of my favourite poem:

DARING GREATLY
by Theodore Roosevelt

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worth cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.